Margo Schmiederer

Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon, is a nature preserve south of Petra, known for its beauty and history. It has striking landscape, ridges, arches, and beautiful colored sand that will leave you in awe. You can tour Wadi Rum by Jeep (or other car) or by camel, typically in groups led by a local guide. Along the tour, typically 1.5-2 hours, you will have the opportunity to stop to ...

Enjoy a once in a lifetime experience dog-sledding in Quebec, an hour outside of Ottawa, with Escapade Eskimo! The guide of the tour is the owner of the business who also runs a lodge that you can stay in before and after your trip. You'll arrive at the lodge, check-in, and once ready, you'll drive a few minutes down the road to the launch point where you'll meet the guide with the dogs. You'll...

The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is a pilgrimage for anyone interested in religion and history. Along your way you will see the place where it is believed that Jesus ascended into heaven, the Garden of Gethsemane (where Jesus suffered the night before he was crucified), and the Church of Pater Noster (Roman Catholic), among many others. It is a humbling and almost out-of-body experience to see ...

A well-kept mountain biking trail right in Core Creek Park! The trail can easily be ridden by beginners, although there are several parts with lots of roots and/or logs where beginners may want to carry bikes over rather than riding.  You can access the trail by using the entrance to Core Creek Park that's across from Maple Point Middle School (Woodbourne Road). Drive all the way to the end whe...

Enjoy a peaceful walk through Raccoon Creek State Park's Wildflower Reserve. Only a 20 minute drive outside of Pittsburgh, you'll find yourself in the serene outdoors at Raccoon Creek State Park. After walking through the Reserve, you can explore the rest of the park, including the lake for swimming or kayaking, hiking, and more. The Wildflower Reserve is off of Route 30 (exact address is: 525 ...

Swim in Lake Erie and then camp right next to the beach at Geneva State Park! Located an hour outside of Cleveland, Geneva State Park is a beautiful park with lots of outdoor activity options perfect for all kinds of groups. The Park offers boat access to the Lake through a six-lane boat ramp and marina with charter fishing boat services for water activities. Alternatively, you can enjoy a day ...

Spend a blissful day at Cascade Ski Center in the heart of the Adirondacks at Lake Placid, New York. This Nordic Ski Center has over 15 miles of groomed trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing with rentals available. The Center also hosts a full-service bar and restaurant, as well as several couches, for relaxing and refreshments between runs.  Most of the trails link together for loops...

Try shooting a gun with L.L. Bean's Discovery Sporting Clay course. You can book courses in the morning or afternoon and will meet at a specified location (the range) where you will meet with the guide and other participants. You will be introduced to the sport of shooting a gun at artificial targets in the air and then have the opportunity to do it in live action. It's incredibly fun and teach...

Sacre Coeur is an incredibly beautiful Church sitting atop Montemarte, a large hill in Paris. From the top of the hill, you'll have a great view of the City and horizon. Montemarte is also conveniently located within walking distance of the Moulin Rouge so that you can see several points of interest on your trip. Be sure to go inside Sacre Coeur as it is arguably even more beautiful inside than...

Run along the Forth, that leads out to the Atlantic Ocean, in Edinburgh at the Portobello Beach Promenade. Accessible by bus, Portobello Beach is generally a quiet and sleepy town. The promenade runs for 2 miles and because both the boardwalk and beach are wide. It is perfect for runners and cyclists. 

This is a very memorable hike that cuts through open fields and has great views of Edinburgh and its surrounding area. The ascent up Cockleroy Hill is quite challenging as it is very steep, but you'll have sheep to keep you company as you make your way up (don't get too close to the sheep, however). You'll be hiking parallel to a fence that you'll want to follow as it leads to the top of the hi...

Photograph the Pittsburgh skyline from Mt. Washington! It's a spot now famous for wedding photo backdrops, family portraits, etc. so you may have to wait a little while to get one of the overlooks to yourself. It's generally easy to park along the street (metered) and then you only have to walk directly across the street to reach the sidewalk that has overlook points.  There are several imp...

Take a quick ferry ride across the St. Lawrence River for spectacular views of Quebec City, Cap-Diamant, the Château Frontenac, and Dufferin Terrace from the water. The ferry is the Quebec City-Levis Ferry and has regular service throughout the day, as well as into the night. The ride is short, only about 10 minutes across the river, but it is a worthwhile trip if only for pictures and views!  ...

On your way to Quebec City, or on your way out, stop by Hotel de Glace for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure exploring structures made completely out of ice. For a fee that you can pay at the entrance, you will have access to all of the ice buildings, including the hotel, chapel, and bar, which has exceptional cocktails. You can also stay at the hotel and sleep in one of the ice rooms with a bed m...

See Cleveland from a new perspective by kayaking the Cuyahoga River through the Flats neighborhood of Cleveland. You can rent the kayaks or bring your own and depart from a boat launch in the area. It is a very scenic and picturesque paddle, although there are lots of motorized boats to look out for and steer clear of on this river as it leads out to Lake Erie. 

A 24-mile path for biking, running, and walking with the best views of Pittsburgh. The path is non-linear as Pittsburgh comes to a point at Three Point Park, where three rivers intersect, and you can ride on all three sides of the land via this trail. Riding along the north side will give you great views of downtown and the city's famous yellow bridges as you ride next to Heinz Field (Steelers)...

Enjoy a wonderful view of the Seattle skyline from Dr. Jose Rizal park. Parking is easy and accessible, and the park has lots of benches for sitting and taking in the view. Walk around the park for different views of the city or take in the surrounding neighborhood, you'll most likely catch a lot of locals walking around with their dogs.  For TV fanatics, this is one of the shots of downtown sh...

Preserved as a historical site, Rievaulx Abbey used to be a monastery for religious orders. The ruins sit on a small hill and can be explored and photographed as they are beautiful monuments against the beautiful English countryside backdrop. The ruins are maintained and administered so that there is a cafe on the site where you can purchase refreshments and books about the site's history. Ther...

French Creek State Park offers a web of trails for hiking and mountain biking with two lakes, picnic areas, and more. Hike the Lenape and Boone Trail Loop, a moderate 4.5 mile hike that winds through the forest and offers views of both of the park's lakes - Scott's Run Lake and Hopewell Lake. Dogs are allowed on trails but must be leashed.  You can access the Boone Trail off of Hopewell Lake ne...

Get a feel for what New York was like in the 19th century at the Seaport! The Seaport boasts some of the oldest buildings and architecture in Manhattan, and the area continues to bustle today. The Seaport borders the Financial District and the East River - so there are lots of wonderful sights to take in, in addition to great shopping, eateries, and entertainment.  Parking in New York is a nigh...

The Met Cloisters is an art museum owned by the Met that boasts religious (mostly Catholic) art from a range of time periods as the building used to function as a cloister for monks. The inside of the Cloisters museum is a castle-like building that can be visited for a small ticket fee (suggested donation).  There is an ample amount of green space that surrounds the museum that is open to the p...

See Palestine with your own eyes through the Dual Narrative Tour offered by Abraham Hostels in Jerusalem. The tour departs from Jerusalem with an Israeli/Jewish tour guide who gives you a history of the area and controversy surrounding the land dating back hundreds of years. With this guide, you will walk the streets of Palestine that are considered safe for Israelis and have the opportunity to...

An incredible hike/walk around the Glenfinnan Viaduct, a famous section of the railway in the United Kingdom. It is a very peaceful place and parking is very easy. There is a small stream in the area and if you go in late August or early September, you'll be surrounded by Scotland's famous wildflowers. This place is truly serene and heavenly - if you're in the area, be sure to stop by!  For Har...

Go to the Citadel with your camera for a striking view of the city at sunset! The Citadel sits on the highest hill in Amman and overlooks the old city and Roman Theater below. The Citadel houses the Temple of Hercules, a Byzantine church, and the Umayyad palace - all of which look beautiful against the blue sky background as the sun sets. The site is open until about 7pm and costs 2 JOR for ent...